little britain

Progressive quiz; Taylor Swift grew up on what sort of farm? Christmas 🎄 tree farm.

But it’s curry 🍛 night in the WJ!

The gates

It’s getting very dark down here!

Going down…

Right outside my window…

There is a Pinnacle breakfast up in Starquest between 7-8a tomorrow morning. Will @little britain and @twangster ever meet… who knows?!

Just looked out of the window and we are definitely moving… around 10knots I’d guess. Enough for a little motion.

Lock timings for tomorrow: 8am 1.30pm 3pm all through by 4.30pm

Feedback on the Embera village tour; We started at 10a and we went in a bus for 1h45m with no facilities 🚽 ! We were given a small boxed meal containing a chicken roll and a rather nice muffin. And water. Then it was time to board the dugout canoes. Down a slope that was gravel and mud. This was where the unsuitably shod people in flip flops 🩴/ high heels and with walking sticks should have perhaps read the tour instructions a little more carefully! All safely on board we set off up the Chagres river in 3 canoes. The water level was very very shallow and several times we grounded and the lead guy had to jump over side and push us out! After about 20 mins we arrived at the village: another quite steep climb up. Greeted by musicians, then led to a large palm roofed area where the head of the village explained about their life and a lady explained about the different leaves etc used in their weaving. We were also given a banana leaf filled with fresh talapia and plantain. An hour free to roam the village, use their rudimentary facilities, then we had almost all villagers dancing for us. Back down to the canoes and on the bus by 2:40p. I was a bit dubious about this trip; I was worried that I would feel that the tribe were being forced to perform etc, but our guide himself was a member of the tribe and he shared stories of his early life and experience. Panama itself is very run down with filth and litter everywhere- even in the National Parks which was depressing to see.

@twangster when we go through the locks are we going up or down? Is the pacific higher than the Caribbean or vice versa? Or do we go up a bit to the lake then down again?!

I’ll send you details of how to DIY ?!

@twangster have you listened to the guy in the pub? He’s very good

Because Colon lives up to its name ( think about it) we are also going on a ship’s tour- and we never do ship’s tours. We are off to see the indigenous Embera people with a trip in a dug out canoe 🛶 . The cost to book on board is $114pp.

The ships captain is doing that for us now lol 😆

DIY in Cartagena. Today we were one of the first off the ship. Walked right out of the port to the main road. Negotiated with the guy who looked to be in charge of the cab 🚕 drivers - $5 total for 2 to Plaza del Poco in the Getsemani area of the city. This area is charming full of brightly coloured houses and street art. Wandered up and down the little roads for a while ( don’t miss Callejon Angosto with the umbrellas ) then walked through the park, el Centernario Plaza, to the walled city entering via Plaza del Reloj. more beautiful coloured houses and peaceful churches. We ended up near the Hotel Bastion, had lunch and a few beers, and then caught a cab back up the port. This guy charged $10 but it was a longer drive. Leave yourself enough time to enjoy the wildlife at the port

How much was it? Compared to my $15 cab ride for 2 DIY?!

Fabulous day in my favourite port. $5 cab to the charming street art area of Getsemani, then walked over to the old town. Stunning lunch incl 4 beers cost $22 then $10 cab ride back to the ship, walking through the great wildlife reserve So including buying coffee 🫘 about $50 for both of us for the day. Bargain.

Sadly; It was very average! I’m retracting my earlier post raving about the new menus! The chef could not cook Yorkshire puddings, there was no custard with the Sticky Toffee pudding; the Chicken Tikka was ok but no mango chutney… but the fish and chips did come with mushy peas. Not guacamole!!! Whoever thought that goats cheese, mozzarella sticks and Alfredo pasta were part of a traditional British diet has obviously never been to Britain 🤦‍♀️

We’re going to the Taste of the UK menu in MDR tonight… should be interesting!

I’ve never used it either… just noticed no dots …

the chat option is not available in the app. Not sure if @twangster knows why? Or is it another feature of the rubbish Wi-Fi!?

Chat feature in app not showing on Radiance for some reason

We are getting the paper compass without asking. Definitely not 70. DH went to the Cartagena enrichment lecture.. said it was little more than a plug for the shore excursions so very disappointing. Can I just say that the butter 🧈 on board is delicious! Lovely and salty. Have never had this brand before… and I can’t believe I’m doing a shout out for butter!!!

*$14 = $758,570 of “free” drinks!!